DeForest had been at Oklahoma State for 11 seasons, serving as associate head coach, special-teams coordinator and safeties coach in 2011. West Virginia just lost defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel to Arizona, along with two other defensive assistants.

West Virginia has not made any official announcements about new hires. But DeForest told the newspaper:

"It’s always hard to say goodbye. No one ever wants change. Do I want to leave? No, but I have to leave. I have to leave for my family and my career. I’m just trying to advance my career."